Jack Sheldon: Still Going Strong

For Jack Sheldon, a beacon for some sixty years on the West Coast jazz scene, 2008 is turning out to be a very good year. At 76, the celebrated trumpet player, vocalist, bandleader and TV personality, is the subject of a new documentary film, while his jazz career continues to accelerate.

He was there when the so-called West Coast Jazza cooled-down version of hard bopwas born. He calls himself a "survivor" from the period. "Only a few of us are left. Bud Shank is another," he says. Sheldon and alto saxophonist Shank played together in the early fifties at the Lighthouse, the incubator for the West Coast sound. Along with Sheldon and Shank, the line-up at the time was pianist Claude Williamson, bassist Howard Rumsey and drummer Stan Levey.

Rumsey, now ninety and retired in Orange County, California, started the Lighthouse All-Stars in 1950. Recalling those early days, he says about Sheldon: "Although he was good back then, Jack is playing better today than he ever has." By the way, Rumsey defines the West Coast style "as jazz without vibrato."

Adding emphases to this opinion is the documentary, Trying to Get Good: The Jazz Odyssey of Jack Sheldon, produced by Doug McIntyre and Penny Peyser. Released in early 2008, it will play the Newport Beach Film Festival, April 29, 2008. The film stresses Sheldon's dedication to his music.

Two special upcoming appearances will showcase his talent. His quartet, California Cool, will perform at the Orange County Performing Artscenter, April 25-26, 2008, and at the L.A. Jazz Institute's "The Stage Door Swings" event, May 22-25, 2008, featuring classic jazz interpretations of Broadway musicals. Sheldon's participation in Shelly Manne's big band LP, My Fair Lady with the Un-Original Cast (Capitol, 1964), offering jazz takes on music from My Fair Lady, will be recreated. Sheldon and Irene Krall sang on the original; here, Tierney Smith will take the Krall part. The Institute's four-day event will be held at the Four Points Sheraton at LAX airport.

The 76-year-old Sheldon grew up in Jacksonville, Florida, and started playing trumpet when he was twelve. He took to the instrument immediately and became proficient enough to play with Gene Brandt's band back in the early forties. Sheldon says, "It was war time, and many musicians had gone off to fight. So Gene gave me a chance when I was thirteen." Soon after the war, Jack went to Southern California. While attending Los Angeles City College, Sheldon played various small clubs. Soon he became part of the Lighthouse group.

Sheldon's biggest influence was Dizzy Gillespie. "After I first came to Los Angeles, Dizzy's band was playing at the Million Dollar Theater," he says. "I waited around the back, and Dizzy used to let me in to hear. He finally gave me a chance to sit in. Which was a big thrill."

His first recording came in 1955 on Jimmy Giuffre's Tangents In Jazz (Capitol), a bold, highly praised LP. Here, Giuffre put together a quartet with himself on tenor sax, Sheldon on trumpet, Ralph Pena on bass and Al Acton on drums. The concept was to play without an overt beat, with bass and drums interplaying with the others as in a classical setting. "It was way ahead of its time," Sheldon says. "Giuffre was a true genius." Listening to the album today, the tracks still sound fresh and, despite "no beat," it certainly swings. It has been reissued on CD by MSI Music Imports.

In 1958-59, Sheldon played with the bands of Benny Goodman and Stan Kenton. "Benny was my mentor. I really respected him. In fact, he even let me sing," he says. "Stan would never do that. He was leery of my ad-libbing before the audience." The big band experience made him decide that traveling on the road was not for him. Sheldon returned to California and hasn't left since.

Sheldon's irrepressible jokester personality made him a natural for TV. In the early sixties, he started with appearances on Steve Allen's nightly show, which featured lots of jazz. Here, Sheldon's comedic personality was recognized, and he was given his own TV show, Run Buddy, Run in 1966. Most memorable was his following 18-year stint with the Merv Griffin Show, trading quips with the host and acting as musical director.

During this busy period, Sheldon never stopped playing jazz at local clubs, making a long list of recordings under his own name and in collaboration with other jazz greats. Sometimes overlooked as a vocalist, he has an inimitable voice; casual, with impeccable jazz phrasing and an irresistible way of bending notes. Some compare his style to Frank Sinatra. Indeed, Sheldon has played for 'Ol Blue Eyes and has a few humorous anecdotes about the time.

I love jazz because it rewards careful listening. Jazz can be as deep and complicated and deep as classical music, but with a sense of modernity and FUN. It swings!
My parents listened to jazz a little bit

I love jazz because it rewards careful listening. Jazz can be as deep and complicated and deep as classical music, but with a sense of modernity and FUN. It swings!
My parents listened to jazz a little bit. Then in high school I got a crush on my best friend's older brother, who was a huge jazz fan. He turned me on to Miles Davis' Bitches Brew (which was also the first album I ever bought) and the rest is history. I've met many musicians. It's a joy to live in NYC where there is such a vital community and lots of interaction between players and audience.
The best show I ever attended was... God, there have been so many great ones. My absolute favorite might be the John Lurie tribute concert at the Town Hall. Was it 2013 or 2014? I've been a huge Lounge Lizards fan since the '90s, and many of my favorite local musicians are graduates of that band. It was a joy to see so many of them come out and show their love for John Lurie. Even though he doesn't play sax anymore, he is still a presence. There was so much LOVE in that show. And since the Lounge Lizards don't perform anymore, it was a treat to hear their music live again.
My advice to new listeners... JUST KEEP LISTENING. If you're used to repetition and easy hooks of rock or pop music, you might find it challenging at first to float along with the unpredictability of jazz. But the rewards are worth it! You will learn to listen actively, not passively, and as you tune your mind into every note, texture, and harmony, you'll begin to listen to music in a new and different way. At the best live shows, it's almost a meditative experience for me. My mind just trips out on the music. It's pure bliss, even if the music is abrasive or
challenging.
Also, don't be afraid to LISTEN TO ARTIST YOU'VE NEVER HEARS OF BEFORE. The greats like Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Duke Ellington, etc. are famous for a reason. Their music stands the test of time. But there are so many young artist pushing the boundaries and creating their individual style. You might not love every show or album you listen to, but you'll discover so much. Jazz is not a museum piece--it's a living, breathing art form with almost infinite possibilities.
Finally, if you love the music, PARTICIPATE IN THE ECONOMY. Buy some new CDs instead of streaming everything. Go to live shows and pay the ticket price. Even if it's donation only and you can sneak in for free, remember that most of these artists have years of training and have devoted themselves to an obscure art form out of pure love. Playing music is their job. You get paid for your job, and musicians deserve to get paid too.